Preparing Nurse Leaders in Nursing Professional Development: Leadership Programs

The leader role is one of the seven roles expected of the nursing professional development (NPD) practitioner, as defined in the 2016 NPD: Scope & Standards of Practice. The NPD practitioner as leader ‘‘influences the interprofessional practice and learning environments, the NPD specialty, the profession of nursing and healthcare’’ (Harper & Maloney, 2016, p. 61). NPD practitioners are positioned as leaders according to the scope and standards of practice for NPD. Since the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM, 2011) The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health recommendations for all nurses to adequately prepare for leadership roles, it is imperative that NPD practitioners learn the intricacies of leadership. This column will explore formal and informal professional development options for NPD practitioners to advance management and leadership skills to fulfill their leader role in the healthcare environmen